The Brant Beach Homeowners Board of Directors supports the LBI Shuttle referendum and reminds you to go out and vote on Election Day (07-Nov).

BRANT BEACH HOMEOWNERS

P. O. BOX 2316

BRANT BEACH, NJ 08008

December, 2017

Snowflakes have begun to gently fall onto our poles in Brant Beach! There seems to be an issue with Atlantic City Electric getting our Snowflakes lit but it is beginning to look brighter every day.

We would like to thank all of those who donated money very generously to this project:

Brian & Cate Cunningham

Bonnie DeBouter & Peter Davis

Peter & Mary Ellen Egbert

Frank & Donna Erhard

Patrick & Joanna Filosa

George & Linda Filosa

John & Ginger Finlayson

Jacqueline Finnerty

John & Noel Fiore

John & Kate Flavin

Bob & Mary Ann Giaquinto – In Memory of Bill Kunz

Jessica Hoffman

Michael & Joanne LaQuaglia

Andy & Kathy Maron

Lynn Mountain – In Memory of George Mountain

Dennis & Doris O’Dea

Pat & Carol Pottichen

John & Pat Prout

Frank & Maureen Santiago

Hubert & Lori Streep

Kenny and Vickie Ward

BOCCE: We would also like to thank Dr. Michael Aaron for our Bocce Scoreboards: Bocce is a good way to keep moving and the Scoreboards keep us honest!

WEATHER STATION: The LBI Foundation has launched a local online weather station, giving area residents much more localized information than we would be able to find on other sites. The weather station grew out of a “marshcam” which began operating in the Spring.

Rick Bushnell, who heads the Foundation Science Committee, said the marshcam is accessible by logging onto lbifoundation.org, and then click “science” at the top of the home page. Just below and to the right is a link to the weather station.

Try it, it's fascinating!

Below is our Brant Beach sign all “Decked Out” for the Holidays!

John Fiore, our President, and the entire BBHO Board of Directors, wish you a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Very Safe and Happy New Year!

John Fiore announced that he is President of the Brant Beach Homeowners Association. Pat Prout will continue to serve on the Board.

Treasurer’s Report (Bob Innocenzi):

The balance as of 01-Sep-2017 is $1065, which does not include dues for new year.

Half of the membership has sent in their dues.

If you are paying by check and your LBI address is not on the check, please add it in the memo blank on the check.

Thank you for donations; they are greatly appreciated.

Schools update (Tony Bakum):

Two members of the Long Beach Island school board are opposed to the sale of Long Beach Island grade school.

The costs to fix both the Long Beach Island and Ethel Jacobson schools would have cost nearly 18.4 million dollars (if referendum is approved). The costs to fix both schools have increased.

If referendum is not approved 3 times, it will then go to the state.

Joint Council of Taxpayers Association (Pat Prout):

The Joint Council of LBI Taxpayers passed a motion to do a feasibility study with other towns to adjust the funding formula for the Southern Regional School District (presently 10% of island students account for 80% of costs)

The island mayors met the week of 17-Sep-2017 to discuss the feasibility study; there was a good consensus at the end of the meeting

The cost of the feasibility study and a referendum to change the funding formula will likely cost $600,000 and may take 8-10 years.

The Beach Haven First Aid squad needs EMTs; if interested, Beach Haven First Aid squad will provide training. In addition, interested parties who do not live locally may be eligible for housing assistance. (http://www.bhfas.com/home.html)

Doctor Michael Aaron has generously donated a bocce score board. A plaque will be installed as a thank you.

Snowflakes will be on the poles and lit by Thanksgiving. Anyone interested in purchasing a snowflake (neighbors could pool donations for a snowflake) may contact Pat Prout.

LBI Chamber of Commerce Activities (Steve Havelka):

Chowderfest 30-Sep-2017 and 01-Oct-2017

Kitefest 07-Oct-2017- and 08-Oct-2017

Flea market in Bayview park

Night flight in Barnegat Light

Election day is Tuesday, 07-November-2017. There will be a referendum asking voters to approve a fare for the shuttle buses to help with operating costs. Presently, Long Beach Township is paying for the program, with small amounts contributed by the other municipalities. Ridership has increased from last year to over 110,000 riders this year. If voters approve the referendum, the island shuttles will be allowed to charge a fee. At this time, that is not allowed and we want to be sure that we have monies for repair and replacement of buses as necessary.

Officer Megan Keller:

Is a full-time community officer, who will continue teaching Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) in fall

Although there are no clothing textile recycling bins in the Township, there is a shed behind the Beach Haven Fire Company building. There is a clothing textile recycling bin in the parking lot of the ACME market in Stafford Township.

Before the meeting concluded, an announcement was made that beach replenishment will begin soon.

Additional Notes:

Sincere apologies from the Commissioners—there was a communication gap and they did not get the message that we were having a meeting. I now have their direct e-mail addresses and will send personal messages in the future with our meeting dates.

Please remember to follow what is going on in Brant Beach if you are not here by going to the Township website (www.longbeachtownship.com). From there you can access the webcam at 38th Street to check the Boulevard traffic and find out many more things that are going on in Long Beach Township!

Please remember to read the Sandpaper also for all of the local activities.

It is time to pay your BBHO Dues. If you have not already done so, please mail your check for $20.00 to the address above. We are also collecting money for the Snowflakes that will be installed on the poles by Thanksgiving.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send an e-mail.

SHOP LOCAL

We at Brant Beach are happy to welcome the Island Market to our neighborhood. If you have not been there yet, you may want to give it a try. I love the convenience of this store. The prices are very reasonable and the quality is exceptional. Eggs are only $1.99. Cold cuts and Boars Head are the same price as the supermarket. They have very interesting and quality specialty items. They now are open only on the weekends, so please remember to stop by and visit them.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:Dr. Michael Aaron has generously offered to cover the cost of our Bocce Equipment. We are in the process of ordering the equipment!!

The Township has received most of the reimbursement for Superstorm Sandy and was recently reimbursed from Ocean County.

Attendees complimented the Mayor on the recently installed handrails to the beach.

The MTV session was a one-time filming, which generated revenue for the island.

Commissioner Lattanzi:

Shuttles:

There were approximately 80,000 riders in 2016; it is estimated that there may be 100,000 riders this year.

Paul Vereb is in charge of the shuttle and is currently working on a second grant.

Riders may tip or provide contributions.

If the shuttle doesn’t stop for you at the corner, it is because the shuttle is full; however, there is an app to keep track of the shuttle. (http://www.lbishuttle.com)

The total administrative budget is $20,000.

Tax issues

Commissioner Lattanzi spoke about the cost for students from the island to attend Southern Regional School District.

On 08-Jun, Vito Gagliardi, who is from the law firm of Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, gave a presentation at the Harvey Cedars Bible Conference to discuss the Southern Regional School District funding issue (disparity in how much the island pays per student versus Stafford Township’s per pupil cost). Mr Gagliardi discussed options, and said that it would likely be a 10-year process and may be costly in the short term, but then save money over the long term.

Commissioner Bayard:

Water and sewer

New sewers from 80-89th street

Water main from Bayview Park down to Beach Haven (Blvd)

County to come in and pave Boulevard after the underground is done

New Gazebo in Bayview Park

There is a new feature for concerts on the ocean front of 68th

Handrails on each beach entrance have been installed.

Grant money is keeping costs down; the Township spent approximately $35 million on infrastructure.

Q&A

66th street (vehicle access) – will there be railings on beach entry?

Township is to receive $200,000 to fix streets.

Gators are available this year.

There was a request to put a fence on the West side of 67th and 68th

Another attendee indicated water is pooling on bayside streets. Commissioner Bayard will follow up.

New treatment plants will be constructed in Beach Haven Terrace, Holgate, and then next year in Brant Beach.

Work has been done on gas mains from 31st street to near Daddy O’s. Streets will be repaved.

People are welcome to donate to purchase a snowflake. If a group of people wish to pool their money and purchase a snowflake for their street, please contact Pat.

Next year’s anticipated projects (depending on the budget) may include purchasing bocce equipment and sponsoring a concert in Bayview.

A few attendees suggested sending e-mails to request donations for future projects.

Steve Havelka:

The LBI shuttles are operational and running on a longer schedule than last year.

You may call the phone number for shuttle transportation office (next to Acme) to determine where a shuttle is at a given time (609-342-2111).

The phone number for the Gator (4 Gators) is 609-342-2111 (from 10AM to 5PM). Please note it takes approximately 15 minutes for the Gator to arrive. When calling the number, please specify your street number so you can meet at the end of the street to be taken to and from the beach.

The LBI Kite Fest is scheduled for Columbus Day Weekend and will include activities at Bayview Park. For more information (or to volunteer), please visit the LBI Chamber of Commerce Web site.

The Township will be offering concerts throughout the summer on Monday and Tuesday evenings along with adding Sunday afternoons.

Traffic cameras are being installed on 35th street and also the bridge. You may view the traffic cams on the Brant Beach Homeowners Web site and the LBI Chamber of Commerce site, so you can see what is happening on the island year round. They are not operational yet, but we will notify you when they are up and running.

Tony Bakum:

The sale of the LBI school is likely to exceed $18 million. A vote is on the ballot this fall that would tie funding to the Ethel Jacobson school to the sale of the LBI school.

Five of the 6 municipalities have passed a resolution against the referendum (Harvey Cedars did not pass resolution).

Joni Bakum:

A series of concerts are scheduled at Bayview Park on Monday and Tuesday nights (https://www.longbeachtownship.com/departments/recreation/). Joni has recruited other local businesses to pay for the concerts to cut down on taxpayer costs. (Shop local and support your local businesses.)

The Township is partnering with the LBI Arts Council, a nonprofit, to bring arts and culture:

Monday night series, young, local bands

Tuesday nights- bigger bands

Sundays at 68th street (Facedown) on ocean side from 1-3PM

Young, local acoustic artists will also perform on the 68th street ocean front

There will also be competitions (will need to pay to participate), such as the ladies’ stand-up paddleboard (SUP) challenge.

Angela Anderson at the Township is partnering with local restaurants to collect shells that will be used to build an oyster reef.

A Veterans Memorial Park has been established in the Terrace section.

Enforcement of beach badges began on 17-Jun and are free for veterans.

Pat Prout:

There are 373 members.

A mailing was sent to new homeowners. Another mailing will be sent to new members in July.

The Welcome to Brant Beach sign has been repaired and reinstalled.

Beach posts are up to 60th street (will be going up to around 72nd and 73rd St)

A friendly reminder that bicycles ride with traffic and people walk against traffic.

Have you left for the winter. Notify our neighborhood watch coordinator,click on the link on this page